New Retreat Scheduled

Writing Class & retreat for All Genres Focus on “The Heart of the Story”

With Instructor Angela Foster

Cost $45

Friday, August 19, 2011

9 a.m. To 3 p.m.

Brainerd-Baxter, MN

This class is suitable for all writers, beginning to advanced. Writing retreat will be held on Friday, August 19, 2011, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Location: 6584 Parkville Circle, Baxter, MN 56425

Writer and artist, Bev Abear, has generously offered her lovely home and gardens for this unique writing retreat and class. Detailed driving instructions will be provided.

Our day together will be productive, but casual and fun! Instructions on craft will be followed by time to write (in the garden or inside Bev’s beautiful home). You will be inspired to stretch your writing to a new level. (See page 3 for schedule.)

What else? Angela will provide a private consultation. To receive a critique of your work, please email up to five pages of writing or five poems to angelafoster22@yahoo.com.

Cost for the entire day is $45 and includes coffee, iced-tea and water.

Angela Foster is an MFA (Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing) graduate of Pine Manor College in Boston, MA. Sheteaches memoir at The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis, MN, and through the Kitchigami Regional Library system. Her writing awards include, among others, the Carol Bly Award in Creative Nonfiction 2004 and 2006 (Bemidji State University); East Central Arts Council Artist Grant; National League of American Pen Women; and Cup of Comfort. Her work has been published in Poetry Midwest, Lake Country Journal, Dust and Fire, Minnesota Literature, Talking Stick and others.

Schedule:

8:30 – 9:00 a.m. – Get acquainted while we tour Bev’s garden.

9:00 a.m. — The heart of the story —the emotion that drives the story. If you haven’t discovered what your story is really about, you may not know which scenes you need to propel your work forward. We’ll talk about the use of conflict to discover the “heart of your story.”

9:30 a.m. — Time to write! Writing prompts provided for those who need inspiration or bring a work in progress. Make yourself comfortable outside or indoors.

9:45 a.m. — Private consultations with Angela begin.

11:00 a.m. Break

11:15 a.m. — Prior to class you will receive a hand-out with a short story. During this time, we will discuss the piece and dissect it to find the “heart of the story.”

11:30 a.m. Time to Write! Continue a writing piece in progress or try something new.

12:30 — 1:00 p.m. Break for lunch and conversation. Remember to bring a bag lunch. Coffee, tea and water provided.

1:00 p.m. We’ll delve a little deeper into conflict and the “heart of the story.”

1:15 p.m. Time to Write! Private consultations continue.

2:15 p.m. Break

2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Group meeting to discuss works in progress. We’ll read aloud (no pressure to read if you would rather just listen) and discuss what we like and what could be improved.